Mosing along the Mole

We have now walked west along Comox Street then made a left turn and proceeded south on Bute. Now we have turned left again and are walking east on Pendrell Street. A lot of history in this square block!

These Victorian houses are at 1157, 1159, 1163, 1169 and 1173 Pendrell Street. 1157 to 1159 were built in pairs by Alex Bethune, a sort of jack - of -all - trades in 1898 and 1899. Bethune was an interesting fellow and lived a varied life. He was born in 1852 in Peterborough, Ontario and married Mary McIntosh at Pilot Mound, Manitoba in 1882. There Bethune had been involved in the hardware and lumber business as well as being Postmaster in Manitou, Manitoba.

In the fall of 1891 Bethune arrived in Vancouver and worked in boots and shoes at Mills and Bethune as well as being involved in building and contracting. Starting in 1894 Bethune was elected as an Alderman several times and became Mayor of Vancouver in 1907.

Bethune lived in 1173 Pendrell and probably built it as well. It is thought to have been built in 1898 but it could have been earlier since there were two young working families, the Pitts and the Powells, renting one of those properties from at least 1891.



In 1898 1147 Pendrell Street was built for Henry de la Vallee Poussin who owned the property. Poussin though may have never lived there  and it isn't known who he was, what he did where he came from or where he went. It is known though that Colin Chisholm and Sarah Ralston and their four children resided here by 1901. This house was surrounded by additions with the original building mostly intact inside.

One addition where 1145 Pendrell is today was attached between this building and 1145 across the front of both buildings. These were built during and at the end of WWII as war industry jobs attracted more people to this city and created a demand for housing.

The addition where this building now stands was poorly done and could not be saved as a stand alone building. By this stylistically sympathetic new building was built on the same spot.

This Victorian home resembles the 'painted ladies' of San Francisco and is a rare gem in Vancouver. It was built in 1898 for Nelson Martin. Martin was born in Scotland and came to Canada at the age of 21. He served in the Canadian Home Guard and was in Winnipeg during the Reil Rebellion.

Not long after the Great Fire of 1886 Nelson moved to Vancouver and worked as a plasterer. He helped construct the first Hotel Vancouver at Georgia and Granville Streets as well as other large city buildings during that time. At one time Martin worked as a plasterer for several homes on Sea and Lulu Islands (now Richmond) and to get there he had quite a journey! He would walk to Eburne, now Marpole and then row across the Fraser River. Presumably he would do the same in reverse to get home in the evening. It's no wonder this was named the Martin Walk.

This house is also noted for being the home to the first French Consul in Vancouver at the end of the 19th century. The Consul, Baron de St. Laurent, lived there with his wife Eva who was a Canadian from Quebec.

I have more to show you on Mole Hill but have run out of room for today. Until next time I hope you find the beauty around you.

Karen Magill, Victorian, Vancouver, Mole Hill, Pitt, Alex Bethune, History, Nelson Martin

Meandering in Mole Hill

If you are walking along Comox Street - heading west - you will turn left - south - on Bute Street to continue along the next corridor in Mole Hill.

On Bute there are three houses that are identical and excellent examples of Edwardian architecture. They all have the wide open porches and were built in 1908.

The addresses of the homes are 1110, 1116 and 1122 Bute. All have had a variety of renters and owners over the years.

1110 and 1122 have been restored. The interior and exterior are back to their original beauty - including the outside heritage colors. 1116 has been converted to a strata title and the interior restoration reflects this while the exterior was restored to original.

There are a few more buildings on Bute that I want to show you and discuss but I don't have clear pictures so I will be going back.

The green house you are seeing here is right at the corner of Bute and Pendrell. I was certain to get some photos of the back to show you.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

Karen Magill, Edwardian, Vancouver, Mole Hill, Bute, homes, History, renters

More Mole Hill

This is another house in Comox Street in Mole Hill. It doesn't look as old as some I have shown you and that's because it isn't. This home was built in 1950 but the original Victorian house was likely built by Edward Hobson - the builder of 1170 Comox in 1898. It is thought that the house that was first built here was destroyed by fire in 1927 when a blaze occurred at the Royal Alexandra Apartments next door. The lot stayed vacant until 1950 when a philatelist at the Stanley Stamp Co., Fred Eaton, moved in.

During the years of 1905 and 1911 there was an active speculative builder in this area by the name of Peter Agren. He built 1136 and 1140 Comox in 1907. The first residents at 1136 were Agren himself along with an M. Agren, a carpenter and maybe his brother.

1140 was initially home to a contractor named Benjamin Williscroft and his family. Jean Williscroft was a dressmaker and bodice maker who worked at W. Goldbloom while Mabel Williscroft worked at Charles W. Hills and Co. In 1914 William Oscar Black  moved in. Black had been a contractor until the depression of 1913 and was now employed in auto supplies. Black was originally from Orillia, Ontario and was a veteran of the Fenian Raid of 1886.

At 1146 Comox there is a home that was built around 1904. A jeweller by the name of Henry Anstie moved in with his wife Kathleen and children, making this family the original owners and residents. For a long period of time this was not considered a heritage home because it was covered in stucco. But restoration revived this fine example of middle class housing of its period. It is somewhat exotic looking with its hexagonal turret, hipped roof and bell-cast eaves as well as the finely detailed interior trim, casings and stairs.

Remember last week when I told you about the back alley? Here are some photos from there. The houses are so much more intriguing when I can see more of them.

Now I have a slight problem. I took pictures but can't tell the addresses. These houses coming up are on Comox Street and I will just fill you in with the information. I have.

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1150 Comox was built in 1903 by John Matheson, an early Vancouver contractor and builder. He later went into business with his son, Robert Matheson, who went on to become a founding partner in Townly and Matheson Architects.

1160 is the oldest house on the block, built in 1888. It is a unique house with large windows and a gorgeous interior.

The top two photos are of 1164 Comox which was built in 1894 for Francis Bowser. It was originally a full city lot. Bowser's brother, William, became Attorney-General and later Premier for BC for most of 1916. However William Bowser was ousted due to various scandals.

There is more to write on Mole Hill and I will have to go back and get pictures of the houses on Comox Street. This time I will make sure to go when the Farmer's Market isn't there.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

Karen Magill, Townly and Matheson Architects, Vancouver, Mole Hill, William Bowser, homes, History, Farmer's Market